859 inmates walk to freedom thanks to HH

By Alice Lubasi

President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has pardoned 859 inmates to commemorate the 60th Independence Anniversary which falls on October 24, this year.

Among the pardoned 808 are males and 51 are females.

Home Affairs Minister JACK MWIIMBU says of the pardoned 840 are ordinary inmates, seven are females inmates with circumstantial children, nine are very old and three are foreigners.

Mr. MWIIMBU told ZNBC News that the President has exercised his Prerogative of mercy in line with article 97 of the Constitution.

And Mr MWIIMBU said the Zambia Correctional Services and the Judiciary are considering the introduction of correctional courts in Zambia to bring access to justice closer to the inmates.

The minister said the Zambia Correctional Services is currently reviewing the PAROLES Rules of 2008 in order to address all the restrictions regarding granting of PAROLE.

Mr MWIMBU disclosed that Government has incorporated the Juvenile Act into the Children’s code Act of 2022, which demands that children should not be in the same parameter with adult inmates of mixed categories.